Includes bibliographical references (pages 360-374) and index.
Contents:
Postwar. Background of a Battle - and of a Leader -- The McCluskys of Buffalo -- Annapolis and a Navy in Transition -- Naval Aviator -- The 1930s - Origins of a Troubleshooter -- Fighting Six -- Commander, Air Group Six -- Last Minute Preparations -- June 4, 1942 - Take-off -- June 4, 1942 - North or South? -- June 4, 1942 - The Attack -- June 4, 1942 - Escape, A Shot-up Airplane, and Two Gallons of Gasoline -- June 4, 1942 - The Afternoon Attack -- June 5, 1942 - McClusky Versus Browning -- McClusky and Historians -- The Midwar Period -- Training Pilots and a Desk in Washington -- CVE 58 -- The End of the War and the Transition to Peace -- Postwar.
Summary:
The story of the man who won the battle of Midway and avenged Pearl Harbor for the United States. During the Battle of Midway in June 1942, US Navy dive bomber pilot Wade McClusky proved himself to be one of the greatest pilots and combat leaders in American history, but his story has never been told-until now. It was Wade McClusky who remained calm when the Japanese fleet was not where it was expected to be. It was he who made the counterintuitive choice to then search to the north instead of to the south. It was also McClusky who took the calculated risk of continuing to search even though his bombers were low on fuel and may not have enough to make it back to the Enterprise . His ability to remain calm under enormous pressure played a huge role in the US Navy winning this decisive victory that turned the tide of war in the Pacific. This book is the story of exactly the right man being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Wade McClusky was that man and this is his story.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.